Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has brought into operation an advanced Tier-3 data center in Syuchatar, Kathmandu. Built using a prefabricated container, the authority aims to allow enterprises to use the data center for their commercial operations. The Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI) minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet inaugurated the data center at a program on Friday, Ashar 15, 2081.
The data center adheres to the global Tier 3 standards. The authority has set it up in a 3-storey building in Kathmandu. NEA collaborated with a Chinese company Yantai Dongfang Wisdom Electric Co., Ltd to set up the data center. The work on the data center started in November 2021. Built with investment from the government of Nepal and NEA and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank, the entire cost of the facility is estimated at Rs 1.40 billion.
Speaking at the inauguration program, minister Banset said that NEA’s data center will play a significant role in Nepal’s digitalization. He called the data center a “key achievement in energy development,” and added that it’s vital for Nepal’s social development, overall progress, and environmental balance.
If you didn’t know, NEA didn’t have its own data center before it. It completely relied on the Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) and was not reliable always. Having its own means NEA can now store its data independently and run its operations more smoothly.
Now, let’s talk about the features of the data center. The ground floor has a monitoring, regulation, control, and security operation room for the underground power distribution system for the Kathmandu Valley. Likewise, the office and network operation room are set on the first floor. The data center is located on the top floor of the building.
The data center services in Nepal are certainly growing at a pace. NEA, being a massive enterprise, could have a profound role in propping up the industry to the next height.
NEA data center to help with the digitalization of its services
Being a profiting government enterprise, in recent years, NEA has stepped up efforts in the digitalization of its services. The data center is also a part of its Digital NEA program which seeks to modernize and smarten its services. In a similar vein, NEA has also accelerated its efforts in smart meter installation in Kathmandu and across the country.
NEA’s data center will store all of the information technology-related data and servers in an integrated manner.
Going forward, NEA has other interesting plans for its digitalization. Kulman Ghising, executive director of the authority, shared that the authority will have its own private cloud for data storage.
Ghising also shared progress in the construction of a disaster recovery center for data security at the new Butwal substation in Sunwal, Nawalparasi. Until the disaster recovery center is ready, the old data center currently in the head office of the authority will be operated as a recovery center.
Until this recovery center comes into operation, NEA will use its old data center as a recovery center located at its head office in Ratnapark, Kathmandu.
Rabindra Shrestha, NEA deputy Manager says that the data center in Syuchatar enables NEA to monitor and regulate its operations for the underground system in Kathmandu. He also said that online payment, electricity bill reading, EV charging payment, etc. can now be performed remotely around the clock.
Don’t miss: NEA Prepares for IPO, with a mammoth 60 billion Rs, Gets Double A plus rating
40 racks, cooler, automatic fire controller
The data center is equipped with high-end safety and security mechanisms that should be in a Tier 3 facility. It has 40 racks of which 36 are server racks and 4 are network racks. Additionally, it has an N+1 power supply for continuous electricity supply, cooling, automatic fire control system, operation, and safety system. The data center also has round-the-clock CCTV surveillance as well.
Check out: Ncell builds a 3 tier, Integrated Data center (IDC) in Nakkhu
To ensure uninterrupted power supply, there are two generators each with 1 megawatt capacity. NEA says that the system will help address any power issue when the local or national power system faces problems.
Likewise, two modular UPS of 300 KVA capacity have been installed with lithium-ion batteries. The data center can also run smoothly during maintenance and replacement of its hardware.
As for internet connectivity, an optical fiber with an alternative route has been established to connect the NEA head office and data center at Ratna Park. NEA has also mobilized employees to keep the data center running 24×7.
It’s the first data center NEA has brought into use. Let’s hope it revolutionizes the authority’s operations.
